The Friary of Saint Francis, Alnmouth, ALNWICK, Northumberland, NE66 3NJ, UK
Telephone: (01665) 830213
Fax: (01665) 830580
E-mail: alnmouthssf@franciscans.org.uk
The brothers of Alnmouth friary are fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful settings of any Franciscan house
in the province, one that was originally built as a private dwelling. The library and the main chapel, once the
ballroom, look out on to Alnmouth village, Amble, Warkworth and several miles of unspoilt Northumbrian Coast. The
smaller Blessed Sacrament Chapel shares this view and through its windows in the winter months the brothers can
see the Sun rising from the sea during the morning silent prayer time. As well as great natural beauty, the views
from the house take in the routine life of the village and the many people who come for
leisure activities. That
is most appropriate, for the brothers are very much concerned and involved with the life of the wider world.
Whilst in some other Franciscan houses brothers and sisters share in the sorrows and joys of life in our cities, Alnmouth is a place to which, rather, the world seems to come. Each year we welcome over a thousand guests, each for several nights, who come to pray, to rest, to reflect or to find a sense of direction in their lives. Another four thousand at least come through our front door as day visitors, either in groups or as individuals - to pray, to study, to see what it is we do here, or simply because they see us as their friends. The community of brothers is not large, but we are helped greatly by friends, usually members of the Third Order who live and work alongside us for a couple of weeks or a month at a time. Whilst prayer and hospitality at home are the heart of our life, we are also a base for wider mission and ministry in the North-East of England and beyond. Brothers are involved to some extent in the lives of the local churches, schools, hospital and prison, and with people with severe learning difficulties who enjoy gardening in our grounds. We also travel widely to take part in such activities as Parish Missions or in the wider work of the Province.
In all this, we are inspired by our heritage as Franciscans. Here at Alnmouth though, we are also conscious of those monk-evangelists who brought the gospel to these parts in the early days of the English nation, both Celtic and Anglo-Saxon. The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is just up the coast and the election of Saint Cuthbert as bishop took place here in the village. Coquet Island, to which our chapels look out, housed a monastery, a Celtic foundation, for over a thousand years, centuries before we came to Alnmouth. We are very much aware of the living presence of the Saints of the North.
We do get rather 'booked up' with guests and visitors so you need to write first if you wish to come.